Electric switch.



m, 649,l99. Patented May 8,. I900.

w. ELY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I,

(No Model.)

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No. 649,199. P'a tentad'May 8, I900.

w; ELY. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Application filed Apn' 1399.) l 2 Shuts-Sheet 2 New ATENT FFIGE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SYEOIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,199, dated May 8,1909.

Application filed April 29, 1898. Serial No. 679,268. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ELY, a citizen "of the United States,residing in the city and county of Providence, in the State of RhodeIsland, have invented a new and useful Electric Switch, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention consists in the novel constructions, combinations, andarrangements hereinafter more fully described, and shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 isa plan view of my invention applied to a' double-pole single-throwswitch. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 areside elevations illustrating the operation of the switch. Figs. 6 and 7are respectively plan and side views of a modification adapting theswitch to serve as a transfer or onehundred-and-eighty-degree-throwswitch.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts wherever they occur inthe drawings.

A represents a base of non-conducting or insulating material. Brepresents a standard secured upon said base and adapted to serve bothas a pivot-support for the contact blade or member D and for connectionwith the main wire. 0 represents a contact post or brush secured uponsaid base in line with the standard B and in the plane of the movementof the blade D. The said contact-blade D is provided at its rear endwith a gear-segment or toothed termination d. Upon said base andarranged rearwardly of said standard B, I secure another standard E,adapted to serve as a bearing for a rotatable shaft F, upon which issecured a gear-segment e, so held as to mesh with the toothedtermination d of the contact-blade D.

When it is desired to use the invention in a multipolar switch, theparts above described (with the exception of the base and shaft) areduplicated, as shown in Fig. 2.

The shaft F and the rear segment-gear e are preferably made of fiber orsome other non-conducting material in a double-pole switch, so as toinsulate the two poles. A crank G is secured upon said shaft F forrotation at one side thereof, and an actuatinglever L is loosely pivotedupon said shaft for rotation at the opposite side of the same, and saidlever and said crank are connected by a spring .9, which extends fromthe actuatinglever to the crank at the opposite side of said shaft, andwhen so connected serve together to actuate the contact-blade D. Bymeans of the before-described arrangement of the gears 01 and e I amenabled to employ a connectin g-spring which extends from theactuatinglever to the crank at the opposite side of the shaft and stillhave the movement of the ac tuating-lever in the same direction as thatof the contact-blade. Spring-controlled locking-catches N N, pivotedupon said standard E, serve to lock the blade in its open and closedpositions, as shown, respectively, in Figs. 1 and 5. The lever L is sopivoted'as to have a short end extending beyond the pivot-axis of saidlever, as shown, adapted in the rotation of said lever for contact witha surface (preferably inclined) on the respective catches N N to forcethat catch with which it is at the time in contact out of its engagementwith the free end of the crank G, thereby releasing the latter andallowing it to respond to the action of the spring .9. When two bladesare used, I preferably connect their free ends by a cross-bar, as D,Fig. 2. By changing the relative height of the pivot-axes of thecontact-blade and gear-se ment and the relative sizes of the two toothedsegments or gears the switch is readily adapted for use as adouble-throw switch, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Other modifications can be made without departing from the principle ofmy invention. For instance, the contact-blades D D may be mounted on acommon axis and instead of each blade being provided with a toothed enda segment or toothed gear may be secured upon said pivot-axis or shaftand caused to mesh with a toothed segment centrally located on the shaftF. The direction in which the toothed portion d of the blade D extendsbeyond the pivot-axis of said blade is obviously immaterial, providedthe geared segment 6 is pivotally arranged and held in mesh with saidtoothed portion d and is adapted to actuate said blade in eitherdirection.

In explanation of the operation of my in vention we will assume that theswitch is in its closed position-that is, with the contactblade inengagement with the contactpost 0- and looked in that position by theengagement of the spring-controlled catch N with the free end of thecrank G. To open the switch and break the contact, the actuatinglever Lis turned on its pivot-axis to the position shown in Fig. 4, therebydistending the connecting-spring 3 until the free end of said lever isbrought into contact with the catch N and forces it out of itsengagement with the free end of the crank G, thereby releasing thelatter and allowing it to be drawn with rapid movement by the reactionof said spring into the position shown in Fig. 5 and through theintermeshing gears or segments d and e causing the contact-blade D tomove in the same direction as the actuating-leverL with a rapid movementout of its engaging position into its open or disengaged position,(shown in Fig. 5,)where it will be automatically locked by the oppositespring-controlled catch N engaging with the free end of said crank. Re-

versing the movement of the actuating-lever L will similarly distend thespring 8, release the locking-catch N, and carry the contactblade D witha rapid movement in the same direction as the movement of said leverfrom its open to its engaged position, where it is locked by theengagement of the lockingcatch N on that side with the free end of thecrank G, Fig. 1.

I claim as my invention 1. In an electric switch having a base,contact-posts secured upon said base, and a pivoted contact blade ormember, the combination with said parts of an independently-rotatableshaft, a crank carried by said shaft, intermeshing gears orgear-segments c0nnecting said shaft and contact-blade, anactuating-lever pivoted upon said shaft, and a connecting-springextending from said actuatinglever to the crank at the opposite side ofsaid shaft, whereby the actuating-lever and contact-blade will be causedto move in the same direction.

2. The combination of the base-plate A, contact post or brush 0,standard B secured upon said base-p1ate and adapted to serve as apivot-support for the contact-blade, a contact-blade D, pivoted on thestandard B and provided with a toothed or gear portion d, the standard Esecured upon said base-plate, the toothed segment or gear e rotatablymounted on said standard and arranged and held in mesh with the gear ortoothed portion dot the contact-blade D, the crank G secured upon thepivot-axis or shaft F of the gear or segment 6, the lever L, looselypivoted upon said shaft for movement without reference to the movementof said crank, the spring 3 con necting said lever and crank, andspring-controlled locking-catches N, N.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of twowitnesses, this 28th day of February, 1898.

"WILLIAM ELY.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY MARsH, J r., JAMES B. RICHARDSON.

